Date Archives → September 2015

Question & Thought for the last day of September 2015!!!

Question & Thought for the last day of September 2015!!!
See Ya September!
1. Question – Should civil liberties vary between our states?
2. Thought – From a constitutional standpoint, the defeat of the South in the Civil War settled one question and raised another. It probably settled forever the question of whether secession was an option for any state. After 1865 there was to be  more “united” than “states” to the United States. But this left unanswered just how much the states were obliged to obey the Constitution and, in particular, the Bill of Rights. Just reading the words of the Fourteenth Amendment, anyone might think it was almost perfectly designed to impose the Bill of Rights on the states and thereby to reverse Barron v. Baltimore. The very first words of the Fourteenth Amendment point in that direction:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
​This provides for a single national citizenship, and at a minimum that means that civil liberties should not vary drastically from state to state. That would seem to be the spirit of the Fourteenth Amendment: to nationalize the Bill of Rights by nationalizing the definition of citizenship.
This interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment is reinforced by the next clause of the Amendment:
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.
(Barron v. Baltimore confirmed “dual citizenship” – that is, that each American was a citizen of the national government and separately a citizen of one of the states. This meant that the Bill of Rights did not apply to decisions or to procedures of state (or local) governments. Even slavery could continue, because the Bill of Rights could not protect anyone from state laws treating people as property. In fact, the Bill of Rights did not become a vital instrument for the extension of civil liberties for anyone until after a bloody civil war and a revolutionary Fourteenth Amendment intervened. And even so, as we shall see, nearly another century would pass before the Bill of Rights would truly come into its own.) (AMERICAN Think GOVERNMENT by Theodore Lowi, Benjamin Ginsberg & Kenneth Shepsle)
​”Justice is the end of government.
It is the end of civil society.
It ever has been and ever will be pursued
Until it be obtained.
Or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.” (James Madison; The Federalist, No. 51)

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rem – know the why or lose the way! 
Question & Thought & ANDs.

ANDS for September 29th, 2015!!!

ANDS for September 29th, 2015!!!
Good Tuesday Morning!
 
AND: Reading or writing is not required in the Top 20 BCS Football Schools so why should the rest of the population have to learn to read and write?  Do you ever watch 30 for 30 on  ESPN?  Marcus Dupree’s story is mind boggling given he didn’t even have a 4th grade remedial reading level and literally, along with most of his Oklahoma teammates never ever ever went to class or took a test.  Figured I’d give you a curve ball response!

 
 
AND: Yesterday, at about 4:15 I was driving home after making a stop at a health food place–was placing my order for apples–when I was forced off the road. The store is located off the main drag, in a sort of warehouse type area.  The roads there are narrow, curvy, hilly and well treed. Admittedly, a fun place to drive on a nice day (very sporty).  I had pulled out onto this road and was heading home when coming around a curve, heading down hill at the speed of heat was this twenty-something in a two door audi coming straight at me in my lane.  I was lucky and turned into a drive that was immediately available–a bit earlier or later and I would have had to opt for the ditch!

I checked this guy out as he drove by…I was certain he’d either be texting or talking on the cell.  Neither!!  This dumb-#ss was oblivious to the world while brushing his teeth.  I was going to drive after him but I figured Darwin will sort this one out eventually.
AND: Outstanding. Lewis nails this one.

 
But, do we all pray to the same God?  I don’t think so…
 
AND: Mark Twain: “Politicians and diapers must be changed often – and for the same reason.”
AND: Mark, please take me off your mailing list – Thanks!
 
AND: FYI:  Got this twice….that’s okay, I read them both!  Also, this one differs from the online Thought…

WRT Lewis.  I agree that ‘perhaps’ some folks get a tiny glimpse of what awaits on the other side.  While Lewis focuses this on ‘some very good people’–and I take no exception to his thought; I go to the Beatitudes to state who will also get a tiny glimpse.  Ever visit a loved one in oncology? Premature birth? Hospice?  There are an abundance of angels here on earth and in our lives.  We are blessed even when we are poor in spirit, when we mourn, when we hurt.  My friend, how can you have a great week despite the loss of your mother? Tucked into that week was your tiny glimpse!
 
AND: Although you don’t hear from me it doesn’t mean your daily “Question and Thought” does not challenge me. 
 
AND: Great poem!

I was driving my Toyota Tundra behind a guy in a small car through a highway construction zone.  He was all over the single lane.  It was the kind of drifting I’ve seen with drivers who text more so than those who are inebriated.  So when the single lane opened back up to two, I pulled around to the right lane to get around the oblivious texter who apparently didn’t have a clue we were no longer in the construction zone.  I pulled up beside him and witnessed him still looking down and texting.  We were already going over 50 mph.  I laid down on my Tundra’s horn long to get his attention and made the cut throat sign to him when he looked up startled.  Then I went to full speed and drove off.  Looking in my rear view mirror, I saw the guy actually paying attention as his vehicle stopped weaving.  I think I scared the crap out of him.  I am sick and tired of people like him who think they have the right to endanger the rest of society with their poor choices to text and drive.

AND: Mormon doctrine is that the first commandment was free agency.  In other words, Heavenly Father’s purpose for the earth was to provide a place for his children to experience opportunities to choose obedience to his laws and know peace, joy and happiness or not.  Jehovah agreed with this plan of salvation but Lucifer’s plan rebelled against freedom.  We are still fighting the war that began in heaven before the earth was formed and organized.  Lucifer lost the battle so we, the children of God, get to choose and create our own happiness or, through disobedience, our own mess.

AND:You have such a diverse group of readers.  I take exception with several of the And statements.

+ I’d ask one reader to Google the first Amendment and read it.  What do those words mean?  I believe the first Amendment was written to keep the government out of our spiritual belief.  It was not written to prohibit our government from referring to and following their spiritual belief.  So the government didn’t manufacture anything about separation…the US Constitution laid it all out.  I will concede that the original intent has been morphed into a current cultural belief that our governments (local, state, fed) must be “aspiritual” in nature.  If you are represented by such a PC dweeb, write him/her and let them know your feeling.  Then vote the dweeb out of office.
+ Taxing the churches/places of worship is not about government revenue and getting more money.  The argument is about separation of church and state.  The “government” (but mostly one particular political party) does not want political agendas and endorsements coming from the pulpit.  Example:  How many religious institutions would endorse Abortion?  One particular party simply does not want a position of Morality to be entered into the governing equation.  Perhaps this is over stated, but they believe Morality has no place in government as there is no ultimate moral authority–some call this Humanism.  Thus, this political party is using an absurd interpretation of the first Amendment to say if the church violates their perception of separation, they may no longer be eligible for tax free status.  How many could survive paying the tax bill?
+ Spiritual Institutions exist for a purpose.  Not all are purposed with responsibility for outreach into the community. If we look specifically at Churches, they exist for the most part to represent the Body of Christ and to create the sense of family amongst its worshippers.  Their budget may, or may not, be sufficient to support various mission endeavors.  For those cannot support such, I’d say their “outreach” is more internal–personal growth, Christian education, internal church family support–and therefore should not be judged, but rather encouraged.  If you have ever ‘planted’ a church you understand this perspective.

“The human comedy does not attract me enough. I am not entirely of this world…I am from elsewhere. And it is worth finding this elsewhere beyond the walls. But where is it?”  (Eugene Ionesco)

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rem – know the why or lose the way! 
Question & Thought & ANDs.

Queston & Thougt for Septembre

Queston & Thougt for Septembre
Good Monday Morning!
1. Question – Should writing be more important than reading?
2. Thought – Writing comes before reading, in logic and also in public mind. No one cares whether you read fast or slow, well or ill, but as soon as you put pen to paper, somebody may be puzzled, angry, bored, or ecstatic; and if the occasion permits, your reader is almost sure to exclaim about the schools not doing their duty. This is the oldest literary tradition, of which here is a modern instance: –
WHAT KIND OF TEACHING IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS? by “Disgusted”
Recently a letter came into my office from a boy who described himself as a first-year high school student. He wanted infirmation  about Africia, because for his project in the social studies class he had chozen Africia. If we could not help him, were could he write? In closing, he was ours sinceerly. His hand-writing was comparable to that of my 6-year-old nephew.
To bad, but I am not alarmed. (Teacher in America by Jacques Barzun, copyright; 1945)
“It seems to me that just in the ratio that our newspapers increase, our morals decay. The more newspapers, the worse morals.” (Mark Twain)

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rem – know the why or lose the way! 
Question & Thought & ANDs.
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Question & Thought for September 27th, 2015!!!

Question & Thought for September 27th, 2015!!!
Good Sunday Morning from C. S. Lewis!!!
1. Question – Do you see one of your missions in life to put people in the hall?
2. Thought – It is more like a hall out of which doors open into several rooms. If I can bring anyone into that hall I shall have done what I attempted. But it is in the rooms, not in the hall, that there are fires and chairs and meals. The hall is a place to wait in, a place to try the various doors, not a place to live in. For that purpose the worst of the rooms (whichever that may be) is, I think, preferable. It is true that some people may find they have to wait in the hall for a considerable time, while others feel certain almost at once which door they must knock at. I do not know why there is this difference, but I am sure God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait. When you do get into your room you will find that the long wait has done you some kind of good which you would not have otherwise. But you must regard it as waiting, not as camping. You must keep on praying for light: and, of course, even in the hall, you must begin trying to obey the rules which are common to the whole house. And above all you must be asking which door is the true one; not which one pleases you best by its paint and paneling. In plain language, the question should never be: ‘Do I like this kind of service?’ but ‘Are these doctrines true; Is holiness here? Does my conscience move me towards this? Is my reluctance  to knock at this door due to my pride, or my mere taste, or my personal dislike of this particular door-keeper?’
When you have reached your own room, be kind to those who have chosen different doors and to those who are still in the hall. If they are wrong they need your prayers all the more; and if they are your enemies, then you are under orders to pray for them. This is one of the rules common to the whole house. (Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis)
“How monotonously alike all the great tyrants and conquerors have been: how gloriously different the saints.” (C.S. Lewis)

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rem – know the why or lose the way! 
Question & Thought & ANDs.